Deepavali Memories

Having lived in a joint family, the best thing we
could expect was a flowered skirt and tops
out of rough cloth ( seetti pavadai, sattai)and of
course tasty boondi laddoos and 'okkarai' and
hot plantain bajjis in the early morning.As ours
was a thatched house without electricity, crackers
and sparklers were out of question and my
cousins enjoyed them at a far distance.

The first pleasant memory I could recall with
certain amount of certainty was when I was
doing my scholing in Srirangam. My sister gave
birth to her sixth son on a Deepavali day in
1956( she had lost all the five boys within two
or three days after delivery)The house rejoiced
at the new arrival.

The chain of sweet shops one sees today were
not heard of in those days.Infact neighbours
will check with each other to check the sweets
and savouries being prepared so that there
will be no duplication when the delicacies
were exchanged on the eve of deepavali.
It was one such deepavali, when the whole
family had retired to bed early to wake up
next day morning.Boys used to get up at
2-3 A. M.those days so as to claim that they
were the first to burn crackers in that street ).
It was midnight when there was continuous
sound of crackers which was deafening.There
was also noise of vessels being thrown about.
It took a few minutes for us to realise when
and where the sound was coming from.It was
from the kitchen where my cousins have
stealthily obtained crackers and kept the
crackers on a coal stove( kumatti aduppu)
at low heat to keep the olai pattasu crackers
(Small crackers packed in palm leaves)
warm to escape the rainy climate as there
would invariably be rains around DEEPAVALI
TIME.Crackers worth Rs 30/( a great amount
those days) were burnt to ashes in no time
and along with it all sweets and savouries
prepared were all thrown down on the floor.
The entire neighbour hood has assembled
in no time.Fortunately the new clothes
purchased were saved as they were kept
near the pooja almirah.My father was about
to thrash my cousins but Amma prevented.
Luckily there was no fire in the thatched
roofings.
By the time all of us have cleaned up the whole
thing (after recovering from the initial shocks)
it was time to have the GANGA SNANAM ,
Amma prepared Kesari and bajji and tranformed
the gloom to overwhelming brightness and
cheers.
I can never forget this Deepavali.
In 1953, my cousin brother, got angry over
some insignificant issues and refused to go
to his father-in-law's house in the town, just
5 km away for thalai Deepavali.On being
persuaded by my parents he at last agreed,
took a bullock cart, went to Dadra Textiles in
Trichy at 12 midnight. got a silk saree for his
pregnant wife and celebrated thalai deepavali
in his father-in-law's house.My manni,
sister-in-law became very happy.
Another unforgettable Deepavali was in 1970,
two days prior to the sathabhishekam of my father.
All the children with their spouses and kids
were present.As it was a joint family all the
cousins with their families also were present.
My daughter was eighteen months old then.
There were 16 couples present with their
children/grand children totalling nearly 60.
It was a rarity to see all the people taking
bath before 5.30A. M.There was no bathroom
concept. Three , four or even 5 women took
bath at a time in the open space around the well.
Every one received the new clothes,(tinged yellow
at the corners) from my Periappa who was 85 .
It was a rare opportunity to view nearly 60 people,
with their new clothes on, prostrating before
elders to get their blessings.
My plump little daughter returning naked from
the bath room just sat on a row of cape rolls,
causing a funny sound from her back.Luckily
no harm was done.Everybody burst into laughter
including the child.
After 1994 there is absolutely no charm in
Deepavali,as children have left Chennai.
In 2002, my daughter and son-in-law were
here to celebrate Deepavali for the first time.
During 4 Deepavalis I have been in US,. But no
sign of the festival is seen anywhere.Schools
and offices function normally.

In 2000 we,thirty friends in our colony combined to make sweets and savouries.In four to five houses thalai Deepavali was on.They needed a good variety of sweets. So I arranged to make sweets and savouries in our house by engaging an expert cook and then distribute the sweets and share the expenses in a proper ratio.

I had the bengal gram ground in a mill.Ambi mama came and did his best in three days.There was laddoo,jangiri,mysore pak, badusha, coconut burfi, wheat alwa.The savouries were nada, kaara boondhi,mixture and thekuzhal with kaara sev.
All the dubbas purchased fro my daughter's marriage were drawn from the loft.It was a great job to protect from ants.I packed everything as per the list recd and prepared pucca account after deducting the value of remnant oil.There was a clear margin of 18% profit.I felt very happy.

Next morning my friends
assembled. You should have been there to listen to the comments.many felt that they expected 50% profit and they should have done it at home. Two auditors ,husbands of my friends wanted break up for fuel expenses.Do they not know that it is impossible to give such details in a mega project.These people who stand in the Q and simply hand over the money in Grand Sweets Shop without
opening their mouth directed so many questions which I could never think off. Two people left without taking the order.Others murmured.
A great lesson learnt .Nobody lifted their little finger while the process was on,didn't help cleaning the oily kitchen but were ready to argue.
This is the problem of 'coalition Dharma' as used to be stated by ex Prime Minister Dr.Man Mohan Singh.Sweet turned bitter.A great lesson learnt after toil and turmoil.My husband said firmly"This is an opportunity to understand people"

2003 was a very sad Deepavali. My sister's son
who was born on Deepavali day in 1956 breathed
his last on his 47th Birth Day.He was working
as an officer in Education Dept. As he didn't
participate in the strikes , he was secluded
and branded as 'black sheep'.He was receiving
lot of threats from unknown corners. He was
under tension and mounting pressure always.
On the day prior to Deepavali he collapsed
inside the lift in the office.Apollo doctors
tried their best.All efforts were in vain.His
life started and ended on Deepavali Day.
The darling of my sister -who survived after
5 deaths-could not escape destiny.
Now Deepavali has lost all its charm. It has become
a formality to extend greetings on the festive
occasion.
Along with jubilation, we pray for safe Deepavali.
Wish you all a Happy Deepavali.

Jayasala 42